‘Call the roll’ — NAACP speaker encourages women to make a difference

Edwena Crowe and Rose Weaver of Oak Ridge, Shirley Kincaid of Knoxville and Joyce Hardaway of Hamilton County were all recipients of the prestigious Women In NAACP “Bridge of Honor” award this year.

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By Darrell Richardson

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Darrell Richardson

Posted Oct. 17, 2013 at 7:25 PM

By Darrell Richardson

Posted Oct. 17, 2013 at 7:25 PM

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Edwena Crowe and Rose Weaver of Oak Ridge, Shirley Kincaid of Knoxville and Joyce Hardaway of Hamilton County were all recipients of the prestigious Women In NAACP “Bridge of Honor” award this year.

The awards were presented during a WIN breakfast held in the Oak Ridge DoubleTree Hotel, which was the center of activities related to the NAACP’s 67th annual state convention hosted by the Knoxville and Roane County chapters of the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, but held in The Secret City.

“Women have ALWAYS made a difference,” stated the Rev. Latisha Reeves of Word of Life Ministries in Knoxville. Reading from the Book of Judges, Reeves implored the large crowd of breakfast attendees to continue to be “co-laborers in the vineyard” — letting foolishness go while focusing and working together. “Stay focused in the midst of fear,” she said, “because God’s already worked it out.

“In this day and time, we must stay focused,” she reiterated. “It is God who owns the kingdom in His hands and He can turn it.”

Reeves said it is our duty to be in position, to be faithful and to trust God with the results. “Women need to be around, and women need to make a difference,” she added. “Who knows if YOU have been chosen or called? Keep God first … you’re going to need Him.”

Citing a long, exhaustive list of well-known and lesser known women in the Bible who’ve made a difference, as well as women in modern times who have gone the extra mile, the speaker was encouraged by members of the audience to continue to “call the roll.”

Reeves said that “women are at the epicenter,” and added that “THIS is the only moment we know we have.” The reverend said that the list of women revered and remembered — alluding to, as well, the four “Bridge of Honor” honorees recognized this year — “not only showed up … they showed out!” Reeves concluded: “The privilege is ours; the glory is God’s.”

The Bridge of Honor awards are presented to women who are making significant contributions to their community through their professional and volunteer work.